DEVICE FOR DRYING CLOTHES
A device for drying clothes includes a tunnel portion (1), a funnel portion (3) provided at least at one end of the tunnel portion, and a hanging system (15, 25) for clothes provided within the tunnel portion.
This invention relates to a device for drying clothes.
The term “clothes” as used herein includes clothing and also other fabric items that may required to be dried, such as linen and towelling.
Traditionally clothes have been hung outdoors on a washing line, or clothes line, using pegs and allowed to dry over a period while being exposed to ambient air. The disadvantage of such a method of drying clothes is that it is dependent on the prevailing weather conditions.
It is, of course, possible to dry clothes indoors, for example on a drying rack. Indoor drying racks are not dependent on the weather, but tend to have limited capacity.
The alternative of mechanical drying equipment, such as a spin dryer or a tumble dryer, is expensive to purchase and to operate.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for drying clothes which overcomes, or at least ameliorates, the above-mentioned disadvantages.
According to the present invention there is provided a device for drying clothes including a tunnel portion, a funnel portion provided at least at one end of the tunnel portion, and a hanging system for clothes provided within the tunnel portion.
The device may include a funnel portion provided at each end of the tunnel portion.
The or each funnel portion may be removably attached to a tunnel portion.
A skirt may be provided at least at one end of the tunnel portion, the skirt extending around at least a part of the internal periphery of the tunnel portion and extending radially inwardly therefrom. The material of the skirt may be gathered in the radially inner region thereof and ties may be provided to restrict movement of the skirt longitudinally outwardly of the tunnel portion.
The device may include a plurality of tunnel portions removably connected to each other.
Sides of the tunnel portion may extend downwardly substantially to ground level.
The tunnel portion may include a plurality of hoop-like supporting structures. Alternatively or additionally, the tunnel portion may include a plurality of inflatable supporting structures. The inflatable supporting structures may be provided with valves to permit the structures to be inflated and deflated.
The funnel portion may taper as it approaches the tunnel portion.
At least one end of the tunnel portion may be provided with a retractable canopy. The retractable canopy may comprise one or more doors. The canopy may be provided with at least one aperture.
One or more vents may be provided along the length of the tunnel portion. The vents may be selected from apertures and air-permeable material. Alternatively, the or each vent may be in the form of a chimney.
Flooring means may cover at least a part of the floor of the device. The flooring means may be removably secured to the remainder of the device.
The hanging system may comprise a clothing support which extends between opposite walls of the tunnel portion. The clothing support may be hingedly connected to the opposite walls of the tunnel portion. Alternatively, the clothing support may comprise a plurality of supports which are hinged together and are spaced from the surface of the tunnel portion. The supports may be spaced from the surface of the tunnel portion by means of a plurality of spacers. Alternatively, the supports may be spaced from the surface of the tunnel portion by fabric material.
The device may be secured relative to the ground by means of a weight attached to the remainder of the device. The weight may be secured to the remainder of the device by means of elongate supports which extend longitudinally within at least the tunnel portion. A lower surface of the weight may be rounded and may be received in a complementary recess provided in a support member inserted in the ground.
Thus the present invention provides a device for drying clothes which is environmentally friendly and uses only the directed and controlled movement of ambient air. Clothes can be dried even in bad weather, at any time of the day or night and at any time of the year, and the dried clothes can be essentially free from creases so as to need little or no ironing. The device can be positioned in any convenient space, including in a garden, such as on a patio or a lawn, or on a balcony.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:
The device for drying clothes shown in
The funnel portion 3 is secured to the tunnel portion at one end and is free at its other end. The free end of the funnel portion 3 has a greater cross-sectional area than the tunnel portion 1 and tapers as it approaches the tunnel portion such that the cross-sectional area and shape of the funnel portion is the same as the tunnel portion where the two portions join. The shape of the free end of the funnel portion is ideally substantially the same as that of the tunnel portion, but this is not essential. For example, the funnel portion may be tapered in its lower region as shown in
As can be seen from
The device may be secured to any convenient object. For example support cords (not shown) may extend to pre-existing fixings for a washing line or a rotary dryer or may be secured to decking, pegs or any other suitable fixing point.
In use of the device shown in
As shown in
As indicated in
As an alternative to securing the device to a convenient object, the device may be self-supporting and may be maintained in position by means of a weight. One way in which this may be accomplished is shown in
Although not shown, floats may be provided along the lower external regions of the tunnel portion 1 to allow the device to float in the event of flooding.
Claims
1. A device for drying clothes characterised by a tunnel portion, a funnel portion provided at one end of the tunnel portion, and a hanging system for clothes provided within the tunnel portion.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a funnel portion is provided at each end of the tunnel portion.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the funnel portion is removably attached to the tunnel portion.
4. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a skirt is provided at one end of the tunnel portion, the skirt extending around at least a part of the internal periphery of the tunnel portion and extending radially inwardly therefrom.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the material of the skirt is gathered in the radially inner region thereof and ties are provided to restrict movement of the skirt longitudinally outwardly of the tunnel portion.
6. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a plurality of tunnel portions are removably connected to each other.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that sides of the tunnel portion extend downwardly substantially to ground level.
8. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the tunnel portion includes a plurality of supporting structures selected from hoop-like supporting structures or inflatable supporting structures.
9. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the tunnel portion tapers as it approaches the tunnel portion.
10. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that at least one end of the tunnel portion is provided with a retractable canopy.
11. A device as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the canopy is provided with at least one aperture.
12. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that one or more vents is provided along the length of the tunnel portion.
13. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that flooring means covers at least a part of the floor of the device.
14. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the hanging system comprises a clothing support which extends between opposite walls of the tunnel portion.
15. A device as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the clothing support is hingedly connected to the opposite walls of the tunnel portion.
16. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that clothing support comprises a plurality of supports which are hinged together and are spaced from the surface of the tunnel portion.
17. A device as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that the supports are spaced from the surface of the tunnel portion by fabric material.
18. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the device is secured relative to the ground by means of a weight attached to the remainder of the device.
19. A device as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that the weight is secured to the remainder of the device by means of elongate supports which extend longitudinally within at least the tunnel portion.
20. A device as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that a lower surface of the weight is rounded and is received in a complementary recess provided in a support member inserted in the ground.
21. (canceled)
22. (canceled)
23. (canceled)
24. (canceled)
25. (canceled)
26. (canceled)
27. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 22, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 1, 2010
Inventor: Peter Newman (West Midlands)
Application Number: 12/524,124
International Classification: F26B 25/06 (20060101); F26B 25/18 (20060101);